English translations of Vier Lieder, opus 59

by Franz Peter Schubert (1797 - 1828)

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1. Du liebst mich nicht
 (Sung text)
by Franz Peter Schubert (1797 - 1828), "Du liebst mich nicht", op. 59 (Vier Lieder) no. 1, D 756 (1822), published 1826 [ voice, piano ], Sauer & Leidesdorf, VN 932, Wien
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Mein Herz ist zerrissen, du liebst mich nicht!
Du ließest mich's wissen, du liebst mich nicht!
Wiewol ich dir flehend und werbend erschien,
Und liebebeflissen, du liebst mich nicht!
Du hast es gesprochen, mit Worten gesagt,
Mit allzugewissen, du liebst mich nicht!
So soll ich die Sterne, so soll ich den Mond, 
Die Sonne vermissen? du liebst mich nicht!
Was blüht mir die Rose? was blüht der Jasmin?
Was blühn die Narzissen? du liebst mich nicht!

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by August von Platen-Hallermünde (1796 - 1835)
1. You do not love me
Language: English 
My heart has been torn to pieces: you do not love me!
You let me know that you do not love me!
Although I appeared before you, pleading and entreating,
And overflowing with love, you do not love me!
You have said so, with words,
With so much certainty: you do not love me!
Shall I now miss the stars, miss the moon,
And the sun? For you do not love me!
What is it to me that roses bloom, or jasmine;
What is it to me that the narcissus blooms? You do not love me!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Emily Ezust

    Emily Ezust permits her translations to be reproduced without prior permission for printed (not online) programs to free-admission concerts only, provided the following credit is given:

    Translation copyright © by Emily Ezust,
    from the LiederNet Archive

    For any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.


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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 10
Word count: 96

Translation © by Emily Ezust
2. Daß sie hier gewesen
 (Sung text)
by Franz Peter Schubert (1797 - 1828), "Daß sie hier gewesen", op. 59 (Vier Lieder) no. 2, D 775 [ voice and piano ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Daß der Ostwind Düfte
Hauchet in die Lüfte,
Dadurch thut er kund,
Daß du hier gewesen.

Daß hier Thränen rinnen,
Dadurch wirst du innen,
Wär's dir sonst nicht kund,
Daß ich hier gewesen.

Schönheit oder Liebe,
Ob versteckt sie bliebe?
Düfte thun es und
Thränen kund,
Daß sie hier gewesen.

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by Friedrich Rückert (1788 - 1866)
2. That the East Wind blows scents
Language: English 
 That the East Wind blows scents
 gently in the air
 makes it known to me
 that you were here.

 That tears run here
 will make it known to you,
 if you don't know it yet,
 that I was here.

 Beauty or Love,
 whether or not they remain hidden,
 make it known by scents and tears
 that they were here.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Emily Ezust

    Emily Ezust permits her translations to be reproduced without prior permission for printed (not online) programs to free-admission concerts only, provided the following credit is given:

    Translation copyright © by Emily Ezust,
    from the LiederNet Archive

    For any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.


Based on:

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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 60

Translation © by Emily Ezust
3. Du bist die Ruh
 (Sung text)
by Franz Peter Schubert (1797 - 1828), "Du bist die Ruh", op. 59 (Vier Lieder) no. 3, D 776 [ voice and piano ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Du bist die Ruh,
Der Friede mild,
Die Sehnsucht du,
Und was sie stillt.

Ich weihe dir
Voll Lust und Schmerz
Zur Wohnung hier
Mein Aug' und Herz.

Kehr' ein bei mir,
Und schließe du
Still hinter dir
Die Pforten zu.

Treib andern Schmerz
Aus dieser Brust.
Voll sey dies Herz
Von deiner Lust.

Dies Augenzelt
Von deinem Glanz
Allein erhellt,
O füll' es ganz.

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Note: The poem was first published 1822 in Rückert's Oestliche Rosen where all the poems have no titles. In subsequent editions (Erlangen, 1837: Gesammelte Gedichte, Frankfurt a. M., 1868: Gesammelte Poetische Werke) this poem got the title Kehr' ein bei mir!

by Friedrich Rückert (1788 - 1866)
3. You are peace, the mild peace
Language: English 
You are peace,
The mild peace,
You are longing
And what stills it.

I consecrate to you
Full of pleasure and pain
As a dwelling here
My eyes and heart.

Come live with  me,
And close
quietly behind you
the gates.

Drive other pain
Out of this breast
May my heart be full
With your pleasure.

The tabernacle of my eyes
by your radiance
alone is illumined,
O fill it completely!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 1997 by Lynn Thompson, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
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This text was added to the website: 2003-10-20
Line count: 20
Word count: 71

Translation © by Lynn Thompson
4. Lachen und Weinen
 (Sung text)
by Franz Peter Schubert (1797 - 1828), "Lachen und Weinen", op. 59 (Vier Lieder) no. 4, D 777 [ voice and piano ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Lachen und Weinen zu jeglicher Stunde
Ruht bei der Lieb' auf so mancherlei Grunde.
Morgens lacht' ich vor Lust;
Und warum ich nun weine
Bei des Abendes Scheine,
Ist mir selb' nicht bewußt.

Weinen und Lachen zu jeglicher Stunde
Ruht bei der Lieb' auf so mancherlei Grunde.
Abends weint' ich vor Schmerz;
Und warum du erwachen
Kannst am Morgen mit Lachen,
Muß ich dich fragen, o Herz.

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Note: The poem was first published 1822 in Rückert's Oestliche Rosen where all the poems have no titles. In subsequent editions (Erlangen, 1837: Gesammelte Gedichte, Frankfurt a. M., 1868: Gesammelte Poetische Werke) this poem got the title Lachens und Weinens Grund.

by Friedrich Rückert (1788 - 1866)
4. Laughter and tears
Language: English 
Laughter and tears at any hour
rest on Love in so many ways.
In the morning I laugh for joy,
and why I now weep
in the evening glow,
is something unknown to me.

Tears and laughter at any hour
rest on Love in so many ways.
In the evening I weep for sorrow;
and why you can awake
in the morning with laughter,
I must ask you, o my heart!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Emily Ezust

    Emily Ezust permits her translations to be reproduced without prior permission for printed (not online) programs to free-admission concerts only, provided the following credit is given:

    Translation copyright © by Emily Ezust,
    from the LiederNet Archive

    For any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.


Based on:

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website: 2003-10-13
Line count: 12
Word count: 71

Translation © by Emily Ezust